Forgotten Memories

WARNING: Ok, this chapter is going to be longer than the others that you have read, and would have a scene that is different than the rest as well. This chapter is later going to be of higher rating if you would like to consider it that, and you do not have to read. I REPEAT: You do not have to read the longest last paragraph in the longest chapter... Kapish?

Chapter 12

The Pendalum of Time

Melissa's POV

I ran down the stairs, heading out the door of my house. The bag lighter that of my school books, but it was filled with alot more larger items like the blanket and supplies. I had forgotten that I was still in my PJs, but I didn't care at the time. I yelled over my shoulder for my mother or papa to hear. "I will be at a friend's.... I will be back later!" Quickly I shut the door behind me, not wanting to waste time; but I felt the door yank out of my grip, a hand grasped to my wrist. I turned around seeing Anna holding it. "Where are you going?"

"I am helping a friend... Please let me go Anna!" I tried to get free from her grip.

"No Mel. You're going to them again..."

"Please Anna... Hiei is hurt...."

"Hiei? I figured you would be going to Toriko... Is he your boyfriend? Those fools?..."

"I do not know what you are talking about! Let go!" I continued to pry myself out of her grasp. She just held on tighter. "...You are.... hurting me...."

"Where did Shuuichi go that brings you to worry?" She brought her face close to mine.

"No where to your concern. You never wanted to know before!" I finally got free, falling back in the pathway. I quickly squirmed up, grabbing the bag and ran from Roseanna. I didn't turn to see if she was following, running all the way to the apartment complex. I finally stopped to catch my breath, noticing the shadows growing from the sun coming down. I looked up at the third floor, seeing the broken window, but no signs of any life in the room. As I looked up at the building, I seen the moon, full, peeking out from behind the building. I walked through the entrance, still no signs of life. I walked up the stairs carefully so I would not make any sounds that would break the silence. Finally to the third floor, I looked down the hall, seeing the room door ajar slightly. I walked slowly down the hallway, hearing the creaks in the floor to my weight and the book bag. I finally got to the room, knocking on it slightly. "....Hiei...? It is me.... Melissa..." I pushed the door open, seeing Hiei there. He was sitting on the couch, putting away his sword, maybe thinking I was someone unexpected to show up.

"....." He finally looked up at me, his eyes tired, his face covered in blood from a head wound. He wasn't wearing his cloak, but his black shirt and his baggy pants that was held up with three of his belts. He had more wounds on his arm from what I could see with the rest of the sun going down. But the blood on his face, brought a gasp through my lips. He looked away, knowing the sight of him the way his conditions were was not a good sign. I set the bag down, taking out the items that I brought.

"....Kurama called me.... He told me to .... tend to your needs...." Once I took several items out of the bag, I walked over to him, inspecting him closer and see if there was an easier way to heal the wounds. I noticed his shirt was cut in several places, maybe some wounds on his chest were there. And the blood was dried, must have been a while ago but still, it needed to be treated "I don't need tending to.... I can wash myself off..." He started to get up but I held him down.

"You must not move....." I walked back to the stuff, picking up a cloth and the water bottle. I knew from being here before, there was no electricity and no water, so I had to bring my own. I walked back to Hiei, pouring some water on the cloth, but not too much to waste. The water had a bit of solution in it, mixed with peroxide and a little bit of other ailments that may help with healing. I kneeled down, looking up at his eyes before touching him, his tired, confused eyes.

"How many wounds do you have...?" With out saying anything, he took off his shirt, showing more cuts and burns. I almost put my hand to my mouth subconsciously, but instead I lightly touched them to make sure they were real. I looked at his sides, as well as his back, noticing they were as bad as his front. "....How did you get these....?"

"Battles...." He spoke like it was nothing.

"Demon battles...?" I looked up at him, wiping away some of the dried blood on his cheek. I started to remove his head band, seeing that it was not white, but a brown from the dried blood. But before I could remove it partially, he stopped me, removing my hand from the band. I nodded and continued cleaning the rest of his face.

"Yes...." He looked at me, tiredness but thankfulness in his eyes. Once I got all the dried blood cleaned up, I noticed that the wounds weren't as bad as I had thought of them to be. I hated how head wounds turned out to be less than you would think from the blood. I took another side of the cloth and wet it down, washing off the blood from the rest of his body; his arms, chest, back... He didn't even bother to stop me, just sat there patiently. The only other time he had to was when I started taking the bandages off of his right arm. They were covered in blood as well, and I wondered if there was a reason for his arm and his forehead to be kept bandaged. I glanced up at him to see how he was doing. His expression was like in a daze, not really there. I noticed one of the wounds on his head started to open up again, starting to drip from the side of his face. I quickly but carefully wiped it away, then got up to grab the rolls of bandages that I brought with me.

No POV

"....How.... were your friends....?" She asked while deciding which roll to grab.

"....Alright...." He watched her with his eyes, his body not moving at all. Melissa sat down in front of him on the floor, unraveling the bandages and started putting them on his wounds. There went silence while she put the clean bandages on him, at first they started to turn red, but the layers kept the blood in. Once she finished, she looked at him up and down, seeing the progress that she had made. The only thing that bothered her was the bandana on Hiei's forehead, and the wrap around his arm. "Um.... Hiei....?"

He looked at her, the curiosity barely in his eyes. She continued, seeing that he was listening. "What of your other bandages....?" He glanced at his arm that the dragon was held on, pausing a bit before looking back at her. ".....It's just a scar....."

"Can.... I take a look...?" Without saying anything, Hiei continued to look at her, deciding whether to reveal the cursed creature on his arm to her. Was she ready to corrupted more because of him, his influence on her? But then again, she needed to know sooner or later.... He looked to his arm, finding the knot that held the wrap in place, untying it with his one hand. Melissa sat next to him on the couch, watching him. He finally got the knot, unraveling the clothe until it was loose enough to slide off his hand. The dragon mark shone clearly in the window's shine of the moon. Melissa's mouth gaped a bit open in astonishment as she looked at the burnt, dry blood smeared, tattoo. Hiei turned his arm around every so often to show her all of the dragon imprint that crawled down his arm. "....That is.... A nice tattoo.... Why keep it covered?" Melissa finally spoke.

He didn't say anything, registering that the ningens call art like this on one's body a tattoo. "...... It's.... it's not a tattoo....." He replied quietly. Melissa looked up at him, his eyes focused on the arm. She glanced back at it, noticing that it started to get warmer where they sat and smoke starting to come from his arm. He clenched his fist to give it more power, but to control it as well. When Hiei thought that was enough to show, he lowered his kai energy down, relaxing the arm. The smoke started to disperse in the air, thankful there was the broken window. Melissa continued to look at the arm, amazed at what she had just seen. Hiei's voice broke the silence, repeating what he said earlier. "..... It's not a tattoo...."

Melissa looked up at him, his eyes shifting to being closed to open, closing again, and trying to open his eyes. Melissa got up quickly, grabbing the blanket that she had brought, swinging it over Hiei's shoulders and placing it on his back. She sat down next to him, watching him quietly as his sleep tried to take over him. 'I should have not done that....' Hiei thought to himself, looking at her. Her expression was mostly of patience, but also of curiosity. He closed his eyes completely, leaning anywhere that his body would fall. The destination felt that of falling forward, but he was stopped by the quick gentle hand that pulled him another direction that was warmer. Melissa placed Hiei's head in her lap, not wanting him to fall to the floor. Melissa took the blanket and started to cover him completely with it, until she seen his arm again. He hadn't bandaged it up and his arm still had the bloody cut and burns that needed to be tended to. She glanced around her, seeing one of the bloody clothes not far, along with the bandages. She took hold of them, with her foot, reaching down to grab them. She gently applied the clothe on his arm, not wishing to wake the little youkai. Calmly, she wiped away all the blood on his arm, causing the dragon to show more to his white skin that had rarely been shown in the daylight. She put the clean new bandage on his arm, around the dragon where the old bandage had been before it was taken off. She looked at his sleeping face, seeing it's peaceful contour. She noticed the dried blood as well on his forehead, that headband alot more dirty than the rest of the new ones. She hesitantly put the wet clothe to his forehead, where the blood was on the skin, cleaning up what she could. She started to slip the cleaning clothe under his bandana, cleaning what she could. Finally she decided to slip the clothe off his forehead, not all the way, just to the hairline so she could clean the blood.

She slowly started to take it off, only when she got farther than she did before, she would put it back to it's original place, waiting a couple seconds before continuing her progress. This reminded her of a wary dog, taking food from a stranger. She finally got it completely off his forehead, seeing the smeared blood on his forehead. She started to cautiously clear off his forehead, waiting for him to suddenly wake up. She had never seen this teen sleep, not knowing what he would do. She finally got all the blood, seeing no reason for the bandana to be there. That is until she seen a little slit in the center of the forehead. She took a closer look, touching it with the wet clothe. It didn't do anything, maybe it was just a strange scar. Glancing at the roll of new bandages, she noticed that she wouldn't have enough to cover his forehead anyways, so it was best that the original clothe to be where it had been, no newer one. She swiftly took the clothe and put it back to the original spot. Hiei continued to sleep peacefully, more peaceful than she had ever seen him. She smiled a bit, adjusting both Hiei and herself, so the both of them would be comfortable in their sleep.

She found it strange to be sleeping with that of a boy, expecially one who would seem to have a bad reputation. Her face became slightly hot from a blush forming on her cheeks, noticing she was still in the pajamas. They were thin baggy pants, comfortable; and a spaghetti strap top. She had pulled him up so he could rest on her shoulder instead of in her lap, but his head slid just a bit down so it was resting on her chest instead. Melissa decided not to move him, not wanting to wake the fire apparition. And if his head fell farther against her, she would have to move him again anyways. So there was no point in moving him if he was comfortable. She sighed slightly, feeling him rise and fall to her breath in her lungs. 'How could he sleep like this? Where did he really go to get these wounds?' She wondered this as she started to fall asleep. She actually found it comfortable the way they were, his heat being a blanket itself.

"Hikari.... you must go...." A blonde replied to the girl in front of him, She had tears running from her hazel eyes, looking to the portal at which she had to enter.

"Bu-"

"No buts... I don't want to make this harder than it already is..." the boy had tears starting to weild up in his eyes, but he kept them in so Kari would not be more scared. "...I will come after you when it's over..."

"But I am of Light.... I should help!"

"You would be getting yourself into a worse situation. I don't want that devil of a demon to.... I can not... imagine..." The tears finally escaped his eyes. He bowed his head so she would not see his blue eyes. She hugged him, not wanting to let go but knew that she had to. She had no idea where this portal would lead her to, only knowing that it would take her away from her angel of hope. This strange portal was different from the portals she knew; the ones that were to a computer screen and had to be activated by her digital device, this portal opening up physically in the air instead of digitally. Another difference to this portal and the one she knew.... was the digital portal, she knew where it led, and that she would be coming back; this new portal for her, would not allow anything get in, or back out... a one way ticket to an unknown realm.

She clenched on to the blonde, remembering and knowing the fact that she will not see him again. Everyone told her that they would open up the portal again to get her once the demon was destroyed. But she knew that if they didn't give it everything they got, meaning her being there as part of the eight celestrial warriors, then there would be no winning against the monster. She prayed, prayed that they will make it, if she could not return ever, at least have her angel survive. She finally let go, feeling his tears seep through her sleeveless shirt and dripping on her arm. "T... Takeru...." She muttered softly, knowing this may be last time she would hear the name. "I... I love you...."

Takeru's eyes poured more tears, not weeping but just the silent fall of tears and a sniffle or two. He tried to find his voice, choking on it as he tried to speak. "... I... I love.... I love you too, Kari..." He was use to saying these three words, but he was choking through the tears. He knew that they were going to be together again, he will defeat the devil. So why was he crying? He needed to be strong, a man does not cry. They finally let go of each other, Kari walking to the portal. She did not look back, thinking that if she did, she would never leave. She stopped before the portal, looking at the warped vortex. Sighing and thinking of her brother, Taichi. She thought of all her friends, the whole group. Her family and Takeru as well, finally stepping into the vortex.

A girl woke up on a park bench, clueless to where she was. She got up, looking around the park. She finally reached to the part that had the playground, finding four teenage boys already finding amusement with the structure. One with the appearance of black slicked back hair looked like he was racing one with carrot orange hair to the top of the playground. A red head with longer hair was sitting on the swings, swaying back and forth but not very high off the ground. And there was a shorter guy that wore all black with spiked hair whom was leaning against the playground structure with his arms crossed. The carrot top was just about to the top when the one he was racing pulled him back, causing him to slip down one of the slides. The one with the shorter black hair started laughing at the oaf, clenching his stomach from the pain.

"Oh Kuwabara! That was classic!" He hollered through his laughs. The one known as Kuwabara gritted his teeth, scrabbling back up the slide. They were all having a great time at this park that they have know for so long of what it had seemed. The one on the swing chuckled a bit while the spiked hair one smirked. The girl hid behind a tree, hoping they did not see her. She did not want them to notice her and ask questions.

"Urimeshi! Get over here so I can-" Kuwabara was cut short by the spiked haired one. "I don't think you can do much of anything...."

"Shorty you stay out of this!" Kuwabara called back to him. He finally climbed to the top of the slide, chasing after Urimeshi. Urimeshi started climbing faster up the structure, jumping down from it and continued to run. Kuwabara continued to chase him, forgetting of the competition of trying to get to the top. The girl leaned behind one of the trees, hoping they had not spotted her. She wanted to know where she was, without asking these strange teens. Maybe if she listened long enough, then they would give some information that she wanted. Finally she looked back at them, curiosity welling up inside of her. The two boys that were chasing each other stopped and flopped down on the grass, both exhausted from their run. The one with the long read hair got off the swings, sitting next to them on the grass. His walking was graceful, causing the girl to believe he was gay. The short one leaning against the playground stayed near the structure, just changing his position to face them. He may have been the lone wolf of the group.

"I think I would get more tired chasing Urimeshi then I would killing demons...." Kuwabara stated, trying to catch his breath.

"Although you still suck at it..." The lone one replied coldly. Kuwabara got right up, stomping towards him. "Shrimp! I can beat you with one hand!"

"And I'm sure you would loose in one second..." Kuwabara swung his fist to the short one, only to be stopped with his head hitting the playground. He was much taller than the lone wolf, as well as slower; so the Shrimp merely dodged the assult, standing next to Kuwabara. He smirked a bit, placing his hands into the pockets of the cloak or dress that he was wearing. "Hn ...I win..."

"Hiei... that wasn't very nice...." The red head replied, walking to help Kuwabara stand. Urimeshi helped him as well while Kuwabara tried to soothe the injury on his head. The girl continued to stand behind the tree, trying to figure out what Kuwabara said that struck her. Then it hit her: demons.... Her mind began to flash memories; Taichi, Yamato. The battles. Love, courage, friendship, sincerity, knowledge, reliability, kindness, miracle, hope... light... Takeru and the demon.... The portal. All these thoughts raced through her head, hurting it. Kari clenched her head, trying to keep from screaming out. She did not want these demon killers to see her, to find her and ask questions. Was this the world she had to live in for now on? One that carried more demons? She glanced up slightly to catch more of a breath, but noticed a hand reaching to help her up. "Are you alright?"

The red head was the one offering. Urimeshi and Kuwabara looked down at her, their faces blank. And the loner one leaned against the tree, his arms crossed with a suspicious glare. His eyes, from a closer look, were not human. They were red. They were blood red...

Hiei finally awoke, feeling more comfortable than he had ever felt. This wasn't right. He was suppose to feel the hard branch underneath him, or a corner with no cushion. He rested his hand down to sit up, but felt it sink down in warm skin. He froze, not putting on anymore pressure. Slowly he turned his head, finding it was on a soft pillow... of Izanami's chest. He jolted up grabbing onto the head of the couch for leverage up. 'How could I have left myself to be vulnerable to this?!' Hiei thought to himself. Melissa started to stir from Hiei's movement, as well as her warm blanket being gone. She blinked several times to awaken her eyes, Hiei watching her in silence, hoping she would fall back asleep, but to no avail. Melissa merely looked up at him, smiling a soft smile.

"You are awake..." She replied, her smile disappearing. "Are you leaving?"

Hiei did not say anything, only recalling what had happened. He was in the heat of battle, fighting some worthless demons where he got his injuries. They were not big, but too many inflicted on him as well as draining his energy in the fight rendered him to weakness. He remembered using the black dragon on the major foe, killing him almost instantly, leaving the rest of him for the other detectives. He just wanted to rest in Makai afterwards, hopefully have his wounds heal from rest, but his energy was too low to heal himself. He may not survive the night if luck did not look upon him. He would have chossen to settle in the Makai, but a curtain wounded fox reminded him of something else.

"Hiei..." Kurama walked over to his wounded comrade and best friend, the peace after the battle. "You have Izanami to look forward to when this is over with. I know she has the patience of a saint, but it does not mean for her to wait for you her whole life...." Hiei had thought of this, kneeling where he was. Finally after Yusuke's call back to Reikai, a portal opened up, allowing everyone to head back home. Hiei walked in as well, not wanting Izanami to wait longer than he had waited for her.

Hiei was brought back from his thoughts, looking down at Melissa. She had snuggled more into him, the way that he was propped up on the couch, only turning her eyes to look at him. "Please do not leave....."

'You have Izanami to look forward to when you get this over with. I know she has the patience of a saint, but it does not mean for her to wait for you her whole life...' Hiei recalled what Kurama had said, realizing that the fox knew he was planning for his own demise. 'Do I really want Izanami to suffer, and live with the fact that someone close to her has passed away because of stupid actions?' Hiei wondered to himself. 'I would have not been able to see her again, if I had chose to rest in Makai...' He leaned down, feeling Izzy pulling him down to rest. 'Would I have this chance again? Would I be like this or would this be the last time I am to be with her...?' He followed her movements, resting once again on her chest. He was a little cautious but relaxed when he seen her smile. Her arms wrapped around him, reassuring him that it would be alright, he could relax. He nuzzled his head more on her shoulder, his face more on her.

Melissa turned a faint pink at his movements, hugging him closer. She remembered what Roseanna had asked her. '...Is he your boyfriend? Those fools?' 'No... they are not fools... Hiei is not a fool...' She thought to herself. 'And he may not act it, but he cares, he still cares more than anyone could see. He has his own way...' She felt his arm move across her stomach, holding onto her like a child would. She smiled inwardly, 'If I could tell the world just one thing it would be they are all okay. And not to worry, because worry is wasteful at times like these...'

Hiei pulled her closer to himself, hearing her heartbeat go faster, and felt her breathing through her rises and falls. 'I do not want to loss her again...' He felt her cheek rest upon his head, and her mouth moving but no words coming out. He glanced up at her face, feeling her place light kisses on his forehead and his cheek as he looked up. Hiei jolted a bit, turning his head to look at her more clearly. Izzy moved a little more to his face, brushing her lips on his. 'How long was it since I had felt these...?' Hiei thought, recalling back several years to the night she had made her decision. 'Too long...' He kissed her softly, feeling her face turn hotter by the touch. Finally they both gave in, giving more than little pecks. Izzy let her tongue out to pry open his lips. He obeyed, curious of this action. The first kiss he had brought on her was of the night of the decision, so he was new to this new found spring of ecstacy. Izzy slipped her tongue in his mouth, exploring the dark cave. Finally Hiei got the hint and started to do the same, his hand moved up instintively to stroke her cheek, the other hand to her side. It was bare skin, the top risen up from her own movements before. Her stomach tightened to the touch, but did not stop him. Instead she unwrapped her arms from him, bringing them over his neck for a more passionate kisses. Hiei went with his demon instinct, as well as another instinct that was new to him. He never felt this kind of drive before, only the kind of drive that was the thrill of murder. This drive was different, telling him to be more careful with the one he was with, treating it to tenderness. He moved from his spot slowly, getting more atop her. His hand moved higher up, slipping it under her top, as the other hand held him up. Izanami jolted in surprisement but did not stop him, feeling this new touch on her skin. He moved his kisses more to her jawbone, then to her neck. She tilted her head for more access, taking deeper breathes for air. He moved from her neck to her collar bone, then to her shoulder, nipping at the strap. He finally got tired of it, stopping for a bit to take it off. Izanami obeyed, lifting up so the fire apparition could relieve her of it. Once it was off, he continued his trail of kisses. His hand rubbed the tenderness of one of her breasts, knowing that now he had easy access to it. Izzy moaned lightly, placing her hands on his shoulders. 'He is wounded, and yet he.... Why can't I say no? Am I suppose to say no...?' He moved back up to her, kissing her passionately again on her lips. Izzy's hands realizing they are able to do anything considering his were, started to move to his pants, but Hiei decided not yet. Instead he ran his hand across her stomach, and her lower stomach just above the pants. They were drawstring pants, and all that had to be done was pull the sting and they would be loose. Her stomach shuddered to tightness, then loosened, and tightened again, bringing chills down her spine, causing the fire youkai to outwardly smirk. Finally Izanami moved her hands to his pants, tugging at one of the many belts. She finally got one of them undone, moving to the next out of the three belts. Once she got to the last, and almost finished with it, Hiei pulled the string to hers. They both tugged at each others pants to go down. Izzy found that Hiei was completely nude excluding the bandages, not wear any boxers or briefs, but it was probably to be expected if he was a demon. But Hiei had a different trouble, she did wear ningen underwear, and he did not have her completely exposed like he was. 'Why do onna's wear so much coverage?' he asked himself as he pulled this last clothe off, remembering that they wear something called a bra as well. Once it was past her knees, Izzy kicked it off, and the both stared at one another. Izzy was a bright red from her first time being exposed infront of someone, while Hiei was amazed that he had gotten this far, without think of it. 'Was this the workings of the inner drive?' Hiei asked himself. '...there are things that happens to a man with a.... near death experience...? Is this it...?' Izzy asked herself as well. They were both out of breath and full of presperation, but they soon continued their progress. Both realizing they had gone too far to turn back now. To far to turn back the pedalum of time.

End

Yes that is the end of that.